Some more good news…
CNN reported a 53-cent drop in gas prices over the last two weeks, a new record! You can claim major responsibility for it! Perhaps those of you who still have jobs can now afford to commute to them. Since the price of gasoline has a ripple effect through the American economy (by affecting the transportation costs of most goods), the good news of the gasoline price decline should spread to the prices of food and other purchased goods.
The average price of self-serve, unleaded gasoline in the U.S., as of Friday, October 24, was $2.78/gallon, as compared with $3.31/gallon on October 10. An online search just turned up a price for regular at Costco in Livermore of $2.71/gallon today, which fits nicely with a rumor of $2.759/gallon that I heard on Friday. Maybe I will hold off a few more days and then fill my vehicles! 
(Update October 27, 2008: I topped off (a little more than a gallon) the tank of my Honda Shadow today at Costco in Livermore. The price for self-serve regular was $2.719.)
(Update October 31, 2008: I filled the Toyota T100 pickup truck at Costco today. The price for self-serve regular was $2.489! Wooooooo Hoooooo! This is actually a pretty good step in the right direction this week, and a tribute to conservation efforts.)
(Update November 05, 2008: I topped off the Honda Shadow at Costco today, and the price for self-serve regular was $2.359/gallon.)
(Update November 10, 2008: Self-serve regular gasoline was $2.329/gallon today! “Big Oil” may be starting to drown in gasoline.)
OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, said on Friday that it would cut production by 1.5 million barrels/day, beginning in November. Crude prices have fallen from $147/barrel in July to $64.15/barrel on Friday, the 24th.
Perhaps with changed driving habits and more fuel-efficient vehicles, it will be possible to continue to “do unto” OPEC and “Big Oil” as they have been “doing unto” the rest of us, for quite some time. Who knows, perhaps there will come a day when songs are no longer written about such things! I am certain that the Parrot Island Band can find other things about which to sing!
The price of self-serve regular in the CNN article was still listed, for San Francisco, at $3.37/gallon, but downward pressure everywhere else should provide some relief, even there.
As for me, I continue to ride my 1100 cc year 2000 Honda Shadow Spirit motorcycle (50 mpg) almost exclusively on my much shorter commutes and around town, and I see many, many hybrid vehicles on the road, and many bicycles and motorcycles.
There is still so much bad news going around that we need wring every drop of “sunshine” from the good news on fuel costs. When the world gives you lemons, make lemonade.
A lemonade toast to your good health and prosperity….
-Bill at Cheshire Cat Photo™
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